Match Preview: Liverpool vs Southampton (21.09.13)

Liverpool vs Southampton, 21st September 2013

Liverpool return to Anfield for a 3pm Saturday fixture, that, on paper, looks a lot more winnable than last time out’s draw away at Swansea. However, The Saints have proved a stumbling block to the Redmen in recent years, with Southampton winning four out of the last six clashes between us, though most of those points won have been at their own ground. Last season the corresponding fixture finished in a 1-0 Liverpool victory. Southampton, though, at St Mary’s, were the last premiership side to inflict defeat upon Liverpool after they totally outplayed us there and won 3-1.

Southampton are currently 11th in the league with 5 points out of a possible twelve, having won one, lost one and drawn two. To be fair it’s a relatively good start. They finished 14th in the Premiership last season so they are performing above average at present. Liverpool are, of course, perched back where they belong, at the top of the league with ten points, 3 wins and one draw. Both teams have only conceded 2 goals so a low-scoring match today looks likely as both have mean defences.

Daniel Sturridge will look forward today to adding to his goals tally and if he does score it will be the fifth consecutive Premiership game in which he has done so. Daniel Agger will be back ready for selection after missing last Monday’s fixture against Swansea with a side strain. Whether Sakho, Toure or Skrtel will fill in in central defence next to him will be a tricky decision for Brendan Rodgers to make. Our key star winger, Philippe Coutinho, is out for several weeks with his shoulder injury, so it looks likely that either new boy Iago Aspas or Raheem Sterling will be called up for duties to replace him. This will be the last match left for Luis Suarez’s ban so he will be back ready for selection as of the next game. The Saints have left back Danny Fox missing due to injury.

It will probably be a fairly tight game, though with Liverpool’s good start to the season and Sturridge’s blinding form, I predict a victory and thee points to extend Liverpool’s early dominance at the top of the league.

The match kicks off at 3pm and isn’t being televised live in the UK so you’ll have to get it streaming on the net. I can recommend trying http://wiziwig.tv or http://sportlemon.tv for your streams. YNWA